How Chinese are helping Suriname turn around its farming fortunes
As the sun rises over the Saramacca District, the promise of pomelo season fills the air. In Ashwien Doekhi's orchard, a scene of abundance unfolds, with trees heavy-laden with ripe citrus fruits swaying gently in the breeze. Doekhi, his brother, and an eager team of workers dived into their harvest.
The story had been different in previous years, when Doekhi's family struggled to afford even basic agricultural tools, often borrowing money from friends and relatives.
In 2022, the China-aided Suriname Agricultural Technical Cooperation Center launched a technical assistance project, including 10 training sessions for over 300 individuals. Surinamese President Chandrikapersad Santokhi attended the launch ceremony. He saw China's technologies as instrumental in fostering high-yield, high-quality agricultural produce and vital for improving the livelihoods of farmers in Suriname.
An aerial drone photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows China-aided Suriname Agricultural Technical Cooperation Center in Saramacca District, Suriname. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)
Doekhi, a 26-year-old participant, lived a ten-minute drive from the center. Chinese experts visited Doekhi's fields almost every day and provided tailored advice at all stages of cultivation, from nurturing seedlings to applying fertilizer.
Doekhi started planting products like chili peppers, eggplants, and watermelons, sold both at local markets and to neighboring countries. Doekhi's crop yields doubled, and his annual income increased two-fold.
"This initiative is so good; it helps us export agricultural products worldwide," said the young farmer, after having seen the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative directly benefit his community.
A Chinese agricultural expert (R) and Ashwien Doekhi check the growth of fruits in Saramacca District, Suriname, April 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin)
Suriname is among the first Caribbean countries to sign a cooperation plan within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative with China.
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